In a Post Shared on His Official X Account, Dr. Fawzi Bedoui Highlights “Deep Religious Symbolism” Behind the February 28 2026 U.S.–Israeli Strike on Iran
In a publication posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Dr. Fawzi Bedoui – a professor of Jewish studies and comparative religions – draws attention to what he calls “deep religious symbolism” in the choice of February 28 2026 for the U.S.–Israeli strike against Iran.
The Date and the Jewish Calendar
- According to Dr. Bedoui, February 28 2026 coincides with Shabbat Zakhor – literally “the Sabbath of Remembrance” – in the Hebrew year 5786, which began at sunset on Friday, February 27.
- He notes that this particular Shabbat is the last one before the festival of Purim, itself preceded by the fast day Ta’anit Esther scheduled for Monday, March 2.
The Biblical Passage Recited on Shabbat Zakhor
Each Shabbat Zakhor, Jewish communities recite Deuteronomy 25:17‑19, which commands the people of Israel to “remember the evil done by Amalek and to erase the memory of it from under the heavens.”
- According to Talmudic tradition, the antagonist Haman – the central enemy figure in the Purim story – is presented as a descendant of Amalek.
- The Purim narrative unfolds in Persia, the territory that corresponds to present‑day Iran.
Political Resonance in Contemporary Israeli Discourse
Dr. Bedoui stresses that this symbolism is not foreign to modern Israeli political rhetoric. He recalls that Benjamin Netanyahu himself revived the figure of Haman during the Gaza war to justify, in his own words, military operations against what he termed “the enemies of Israel,” describing the move as “the legitimation of genocide through religious rhetoric.”
- Regarding the military operation itself, the professor notes that it was initially named ‘Shield of Judah’ before Netanyahu renamed it ‘The Lion’s Roar’, pointing out that the lion is the traditional emblem of the tribe of Judah.
Extending the Analysis to the American Religious Sphere
Dr. Bedoui broadens his analysis to the United States:
- Since Purim 2025, American rabbis have publicly spoken of “the imminent fulfillment of prophecy,” explicitly linking pressure measures against Iran to the Jewish religious calendar.
- He adds that President Donald Trump’s speech, delivered on Shabbat Zakhor – precisely when the passage about erasing Amalek’s memory was being recited in synagogues – was interpreted by these circles as “a sign of extraordinary significance.”
The researcher clarifies, however, that this symbolism operates within the collective religious consciousness whether or not it was intentional on the part of decision‑makers.
Historical Parallel: Baghdad, April 9 2003
In his post, Dr. Bedoui also draws a parallel with the fall of Baghdad on April 9 2003. He asserts that Israel’s foreign minister at the time, Silvan Shalom, told U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell at an AIPAC conference that the date fulfilled Jeremiah’s prophecy concerning the ruin of Babylon.
A Solemn Call to the Arab World
Dr. Bedoui concludes with a solemn appeal to the Arab world:
“Read, retain, and do not forget. Always remember the word Zakhor: this enemy, he does not forget.”
He recommends that anyone wishing to explore the topic further read the work of renowned historian Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi, titled Zakhor, which examines the formation of Jewish historical consciousness.
